What Determines the Amount of Your Compensation in a Car Accident Claim?

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Auto accidents, whether grave or fender benders, are common. When deciding whether to chase an injury claim or not, the biggest question is its worth. Most people base their decision on the amount of compensation they are likely to receive to determine their claim’s value.

Every auto accident claim is different, and there exists no solid principle for determining compensation. An experienced auto accident lawyer in Kent is best-placed to advise you on the dynamics surrounding your case and ensure you get fair compensation.

Here are the common factors that will influence your compensation amount.

Consistency of Your Testimony

You will typically explain the circumstances surrounding your accident to different people. These include the police, medical care provider and the insurance adjusters from your insurance company and the other driver’s.

The adjusters will compare all your statements and try to pick out any inconsistencies. A consistent statement makes you a reliable witness and will typically increase your compensation.

Degree of Negligence

The extent of your fault in causing the accident will determine the compensation you get. Any proven contributory negligence will decrease your compensation or negate it altogether depending on your state laws.

Most states reduce the amount of compensation you are entitled to, based on your percentage of negligence in the accident.

Your Actions Immediately Following the Accident

The consistency of your actions after the accident serves a crucial role in strengthening your claim. Some insurance adjusters go through your social media pages or hire an investigator to observe your actions following the crash.

If you are behaving inconsistently with the injuries you claim to have, this negatively affects your case. You are entitled to claim compensation based on different damages. These include punitive, non-economic and economic damages.

Some of the financial losses cover medical expenses and property damage while non-economic damages include pain and emotional trauma. Punitive damages are those meant to penalize the defendant and deter them from repeating a mistake.